My Thoughts on the New Cameras and Gear Announced at NAB 2015

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This article outlines my opinions on the cameras released on or just before NAB 2015.

It will be revised and updated at the end of NAB 2015, when I’ll reveal which cameras look the most promising – just like I did last year.

Blackmagic Design URSA Mini

Probably the most exciting camera announced so far is the Blackmagic Design URSA Mini:

You only get the barebones body for the Mini. The following accessories were also announced:

VLock Battery Plate – $95

Mini Shoulder Kit – $395

Viewfinder – $1,495

The viewfinder is one of the coolest new announcements from BMD:

It has the following features:

1920 x 1080 color OLED display

adjustable diopter and built in digital focus chart

can also display overlays

Connect via SDI

Opinion:

On paper, the URSA Mini is a winner – If it offers anywhere near 15 stops of dynamic range, and without the white orbs or fixed pattern noise and the myriad of other problems customers have had to bear over the years. At this time I must advise, based on history, that it is extremely wise to wait till the first units have been shipped and cleared for problems. If it really ships before Christmas, that is.

The only major missing link is the lack of built-in ND filters. This single feature is so important, especially for a camera of this form factor.

Blackmagic Design Micro Cinema and Micro Studio

Every manufacturer is making a smaller version of their cameras (except maybe Sony, whose cameras are already small!):

The Micro Cinema is what has caught my attention, being an upgrade to the Pocket camera. Mostly you have the same set of features, except for the option of a global shutter. So far I don’t see any need for current Pocket camera owners to upgrade – at least not until some real-world reviews are published and the cameras have started shipping.

Red 8K Vista Vision Weapon

Red announces a larger-than-full-frame 35mm sensor camera:

Details:

Full Frame / Vista Vision 40mm x 20mm ( 40.96mm x 21.6mm )
8192 x 4320 @ 75FPS
NAB price for the upgrade is $10k additional to Weapon CF or Weapon CF upgrade during NAB only. Upgrade Price when 8K ships at end of the year will be $20k.
If you order 8K now, you will receive 6K Weapon when 6K ships the beginning of July and be upgraded when 8K ships.

Opinion:

Red has thrown the gauntlet to Arri, though the size of the sensor is just a tad bigger than full frame 35mm (36mmx24mm). So most full frame lenses should just about cover this image circle as well. As with all things Red it is prudent to wait and watch!

What’s special about Weapon? The ability to record Prores simultaneously is a huge deal. 3D LUTs and low fan noise is welcome, and dual monitor ports are a huge relief.

The primary USP of 6K is the ability to crop your footage, so those who like this a lot will probably prefer 8K over 6K. As the days go by we will get more details on the merits of each system. At this point it’s too early to call.

Canon C300 Mark II

I’m going to make a prediction:

This camera will sell like hot cakes. First of all, anyone who has used a C300 next to an FS700, FS7 or F5 knows which is the more simpler and ergonomic system for corporate work, weddings and documentaries. Now that Canon has added these features:

The DVX200’s three manual operation lens rings—13x zoom (Cam driven), focus and iris—will provide a comfortable manual control similar to an interchangeable lens camera, but without the need for actual lens changes. The zoom ring’s solid feel and smooth action allow delicate ultra-slow zooming. In addition, the camera’s multi-step zoom control provides fast response and smooth zoom action, yielding the creative freedom every camera operator desires. The zoom control on the handle enables variable speed zoom, allowing fine zoom control even for low angle shots.

The DVX200 also features an enhanced Image Stabilizer, including a five-axis Hybrid Image Stabilizer and 4x correction-area Image Stabilizer that produces clear images without blurring, and a micro-drive focus unit that improves focus speed, tracking and capture performance, facilitating 4K focusing and shallow focus shooting.

The AG-DVX200 utilizes a front element lens / filter diameter of 72mm

…The DVX200 comes with a rugged woven carbon,fiber-like finish, and the recording section is distinctively styled with crimson shading.

Opinion:

Details are sketchy at this point, though it looks like an upgrade to the AF100. Why didn’t they call it the HVX200? Wasn’t DVX supposed to stand for DV?

Anyway, I think this is a good move. Is there a fixed-lens large sensor camcorder around? No. Panasonic just filled that gap. This is a camera that is on-par with the Canon C100 Mark II, except the C100 doesn’t shoot 4K. Tt’s closest competitor would be the JVC LS300.

Those coming from DSLR backgrounds expecting large sensors will not find this camera attractive, and it’s not for them anyway. It’s for those to whom the original DVX100 and the HVX200 were life savers. It’s only once you play with a camera like this you understand its place. Imagine just picking up something and shooting – no rigging, no need to worry about lenses, simultaneous backup and now with a 5-axis image stabilizer and V-log. This camera is important for the very reasons the newly announced Canon XC10 is disappointing.

What could be better? I really wish the lens was better. 29mm is not wide enough (but maybe it is, I’m sure by now they know what people really use), but otherwise everything is in line with what a professional reporter, ENG or documentary shooter needs on a run-and-gun basis. I hope there is Wi-Fi streaming, extra long battery life and good audio.

Like I said, it is for broadcasters with deep pockets! However, one thing is for certain: The XAVC codec is now adopted and entrenched. With Canon, too, adopting H.264 we herald the age of H.264 as the acquisition codec – all thanks to DSLRs!

Canon XC10 4K

Watch this video:

The skin tones are awful. For a camera that costs $2,499, it is unforgivable. Nothing more to say.

Ikegami SHK-810 8K Broadcast Camera

This broadcast camera is special:

Details:

The 810 is designed for the 2020 Olympics…that’s when NHK believes 8K will be mainstream. Here are its features:

33MP 3CMOS Super35mm sensor

PL lens mount

SMPTE fiber output to a Camera Control Unit (CCU)

Weight of camera – 9kg. Weight of CCU – 30 kg

Limit Resolution (I have no clue what this means) – 4,000TVL horizontal and vertical

Opinion:

The fact that it has a Super35mm sensor with a PL mount cannot be understated. This is a camera that has been designed for multiple industries, including cinema. Unlike Red’s 8K Weapon, this sensor can take most Super35mm lenses (as long as they can resolve 8K).

I’m not sure when Ikegami will start selling these, and how much it will cost. But expect it to be more expensive than buying a house – or a whole street.

Final Thoughts

Many of the manufacturers on this page have treated their loyal fans (and paying customers!) poorly over the years – to say the least. Huge marketing campaigns and hype but late deliveries, firmware issues, poor quality control, and so on. They have earned my skepticism.

They want your money upfront, but like to say “aw shucks, we’re the little guy”. This is only acceptable if they haven’t taken your money, but they do. This has become a trend – almost a business and marketing plan that even the major manufacturers have started to follow.

The only two companies that continue to deliver are Arri and Canon. Actually, they under-promise and over-deliver. This NAB, my vote goes to the Canon C300 Mark II and the Arri Alexa Mini, both announced before NAB.

I’ve also used the F5 and F55 and instantly found them easier to operate (set up) and operate (use.)

I’ll continue to read these articles and hope that in the future the “reviews” go beyond the 4K/2K/Full HD internal and external recording (including 4K RAW output via Atomos Shogun) specs and HONESTLY describe what it’s like to actually use the camera(s) in the field (not on the bench.)

Just for info purposes – the type of work I do is for Geographic, Discovery Nets, Smithsonian, PBS.